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Population in Ethiopia compared to Lesotho: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ethiopia was 132,059,767 in 2024 vs 2,337,423 people in Lesotho in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ethiopia's population is 139,917,664 people compared to 2,396,633 in Lesotho.

Population statistics:

  • Ethiopia's population is 58.4 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Ethiopia is ranked the 10th most populous country in the world, while Lesotho is the 143rd.
  • The countries together account for 1.72% of the world: 1.69% for Ethiopia vs 0.03% for Lesotho.
  • For the last 10 years, Ethiopia has had an average growth rate of +2.71% per year vs +1.17% in Lesotho.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ethiopia has increased from 80.7M people to 140M (73.4% growth), while Lesotho has grown from 1.95M to 2.4M (23.2% growth).

Ethiopia vs Lesotho: population by year and forecast

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ethiopia Lesotho
2100 371,192,732 3,280,784
2099 369,452,188 3,286,697
2098 367,626,914 3,292,498
2097 365,680,268 3,298,102
2096 363,648,440 3,303,027
2095 361,707,589 3,307,947
2094 359,642,227 3,312,002
2093 357,570,752 3,315,757
2092 355,499,462 3,319,661
2091 353,327,595 3,322,573
2090 351,068,287 3,324,769
2089 348,859,203 3,326,847
2088 346,624,222 3,328,480
2087 344,268,493 3,329,964
2086 341,777,395 3,330,456
2085 339,272,558 3,331,259
2084 336,753,372 3,331,485
2083 334,186,307 3,331,492
2082 331,503,693 3,331,234
2081 328,816,892 3,330,412
2080 326,114,551 3,329,267
2079 323,382,593 3,327,166
2078 320,521,381 3,324,646
2077 317,590,857 3,321,422
2076 314,615,353 3,317,850
2075 311,583,813 3,314,237
2074 308,511,275 3,309,174
2073 305,477,711 3,303,860
2072 302,351,806 3,298,181
2071 299,211,554 3,291,492
2070 296,054,535 3,283,654
2069 292,847,034 3,275,244
2068 289,612,061 3,266,152
2067 286,279,975 3,256,626
2066 282,992,981 3,246,903
2065 279,662,528 3,237,153
2064 276,283,161 3,226,489
2063 272,866,834 3,215,103
2062 269,424,014 3,202,287
2061 265,885,347 3,188,933
2060 262,350,260 3,174,998
2059 258,772,570 3,160,204
2058 255,284,371 3,145,053
2057 251,733,988 3,129,261
2056 248,079,002 3,113,129
2055 244,501,471 3,095,904
2054 240,868,686 3,078,567
2053 237,228,269 3,060,152
2052 233,551,340 3,040,649
2051 229,804,463 3,020,109
2050 226,124,819 2,999,457
2049 222,420,063 2,978,037
2048 218,694,640 2,955,727
2047 214,950,242 2,932,688
2046 211,226,920 2,909,307
2045 207,525,986 2,885,537
2044 203,812,674 2,861,372
2043 200,097,321 2,836,777
2042 196,411,774 2,811,663
2041 192,749,114 2,786,147
2040 189,081,695 2,760,391
2039 185,422,958 2,734,400
2038 181,789,129 2,708,216
2037 178,179,942 2,681,863
2036 174,569,201 2,654,755
2035 170,957,061 2,627,701
2034 167,367,920 2,600,880
2033 163,813,895 2,574,065
2032 160,216,774 2,547,344
2031 156,638,324 2,520,831
2030 153,070,380 2,494,646
2029 149,507,684 2,468,268
2028 145,989,372 2,441,871
2027 142,463,827 2,415,830
2026 138,973,582 2,389,516
2025 135,513,842 2,363,516
2024 132,059,767 2,337,423
2023 128,691,692 2,311,472
2022 125,384,287 2,286,110
2021 122,138,588 2,261,542
2020 118,917,671 2,235,727
2019 115,737,383 2,209,405
2018 112,664,152 2,183,603
2017 109,666,481 2,157,110
2016 106,718,162 2,130,422
2015 103,867,135 2,104,611
2014 101,115,610 2,080,089
2013 98,438,751 2,056,504
2012 95,798,767 2,034,354
2011 93,149,970 2,014,009
2010 90,538,514 1,996,251
2009 88,007,636 1,980,883
2008 85,543,668 1,966,541
2007 83,103,217 1,953,268
2006 80,703,490 1,945,063
2005 78,367,470 1,953,076
2004 76,077,206 1,971,129
2003 73,832,663 1,985,059
2002 71,635,517 1,994,679
2001 69,487,762 2,000,853
2000 67,411,494 2,003,913
1999 65,374,561 2,003,234
1998 63,363,524 1,998,049
1997 61,404,539 1,988,130
1996 59,467,635 1,972,418
1995 57,537,335 1,951,437
1994 55,611,508 1,927,707
1993 53,708,891 1,901,793
1992 51,853,747 1,873,274
1991 49,717,198 1,842,379
1990 47,609,755 1,809,696
1989 45,879,690 1,775,436
1988 44,150,825 1,739,841
1987 42,460,039 1,703,390
1986 41,037,656 1,666,138
1985 39,842,136 1,624,379
1984 38,735,722 1,578,986
1983 37,740,817 1,534,413
1982 36,701,290 1,490,732
1981 35,304,012 1,448,069
1980 34,428,514 1,406,521
1979 34,238,652 1,366,169
1978 33,734,592 1,327,240
1977 33,167,272 1,289,967
1976 32,534,418 1,253,214
1975 31,723,252 1,213,643
1974 30,957,273 1,172,420
1973 30,166,785 1,132,697
1972 29,374,608 1,094,063
1971 28,600,106 1,056,246
1970 27,829,128 1,019,273
1969 27,072,571 983,202
1968 26,337,930 948,105
1967 25,620,276 913,982
1966 24,952,689 881,870
1965 24,310,612 854,090
1964 23,666,548 829,437
1963 23,051,637 805,373
1962 22,465,126 781,814
1961 21,906,102 758,824
1960 21,376,693 736,500

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/lesotho | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ethiopia increased by 26,014,672 people (a 32.2% growth), while Lesotho gained 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ethiopia gained 33,199,502 people (a 31.1% growth), while Lesotho's population increased by 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth).

Ethiopia was ranked 16th most populous country in 2006 and is 10th in 2026. Lesotho was ranked 144th in 2006 and ranked 143rd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Ethiopia's population will grow by 61.6% to 226,124,819 people with a rank change from 10th to 7th. The population of Lesotho will increase by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people and rank change from 143rd to 141st.

Ethiopia is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 371M people compared to the peak of 3.33M people in 2083 for Lesotho.

Population growth rate by year

Ethiopia
Factual

Projection
Lesotho
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ethiopia Lesotho
2100 0.47% -0.18%
2099 0.5% -0.18%
2098 0.53% -0.17%
2097 0.56% -0.15%
2096 0.54% -0.15%
2095 0.57% -0.12%
2094 0.58% -0.11%
2093 0.58% -0.12%
2092 0.61% -0.09%
2091 0.64% -0.07%
2090 0.63% -0.06%
2089 0.64% -0.05%
2088 0.68% -0.04%
2087 0.73% -0.01%
2086 0.74% -0.02%
2085 0.75% -0.007%
2084 0.77% -0%
2083 0.81% 0.008%
2082 0.82% 0.02%
2081 0.83% 0.03%
2080 0.84% 0.06%
2079 0.89% 0.08%
2078 0.92% 0.1%
2077 0.95% 0.11%
2076 0.97% 0.11%
2075 1% 0.15%
2074 0.99% 0.16%
2073 1.03% 0.17%
2072 1.05% 0.2%
2071 1.07% 0.24%
2070 1.1% 0.26%
2069 1.12% 0.28%
2068 1.16% 0.29%
2067 1.16% 0.3%
2066 1.19% 0.3%
2065 1.22% 0.33%
2064 1.25% 0.35%
2063 1.28% 0.4%
2062 1.33% 0.42%
2061 1.35% 0.44%
2060 1.38% 0.47%
2059 1.37% 0.48%
2058 1.41% 0.5%
2057 1.47% 0.52%
2056 1.46% 0.56%
2055 1.51% 0.56%
2054 1.53% 0.6%
2053 1.57% 0.64%
2052 1.63% 0.68%
2051 1.63% 0.69%
2050 1.67% 0.72%
2049 1.7% 0.75%
2048 1.74% 0.79%
2047 1.76% 0.8%
2046 1.78% 0.82%
2045 1.82% 0.84%
2044 1.86% 0.87%
2043 1.88% 0.89%
2042 1.9% 0.92%
2041 1.94% 0.93%
2040 1.97% 0.95%
2039 2% 0.97%
2038 2.03% 0.98%
2037 2.07% 1.02%
2036 2.11% 1.03%
2035 2.14% 1.03%
2034 2.17% 1.04%
2033 2.25% 1.05%
2032 2.28% 1.05%
2031 2.33% 1.05%
2030 2.38% 1.07%
2029 2.41% 1.08%
2028 2.47% 1.08%
2027 2.51% 1.1%
2026 2.55% 1.1%
2025 2.62% 1.12%
2024 2.62% 1.12%
2023 2.64% 1.11%
2022 2.66% 1.09%
2021 2.71% 1.15%
2020 2.75% 1.19%
2019 2.73% 1.18%
2018 2.73% 1.23%
2017 2.76% 1.25%
2016 2.74% 1.23%
2015 2.72% 1.18%
2014 2.72% 1.15%
2013 2.76% 1.09%
2012 2.84% 1.01%
2011 2.88% 0.89%
2010 2.88% 0.78%
2009 2.88% 0.73%
2008 2.94% 0.68%
2007 2.97% 0.42%
2006 2.98% -0.41%
2005 3.01% -0.92%
2004 3.04% -0.7%
2003 3.07% -0.48%
2002 3.09% -0.31%
2001 3.08% -0.15%
2000 3.12% 0.03%
1999 3.17% 0.26%
1998 3.19% 0.5%
1997 3.26% 0.8%
1996 3.35% 1.08%
1995 3.46% 1.23%
1994 3.54% 1.36%
1993 3.58% 1.52%
1992 4.3% 1.68%
1991 4.43% 1.81%
1990 3.77% 1.93%
1989 3.92% 2.05%
1988 3.98% 2.14%
1987 3.47% 2.24%
1986 3% 2.57%
1985 2.86% 2.87%
1984 2.64% 2.9%
1983 2.83% 2.93%
1982 3.96% 2.95%
1981 2.54% 2.95%
1980 0.55% 2.95%
1979 1.49% 2.93%
1978 1.71% 2.89%
1977 1.95% 2.93%
1976 2.56% 3.26%
1975 2.47% 3.52%
1974 2.62% 3.51%
1973 2.7% 3.53%
1972 2.71% 3.58%
1971 2.77% 3.63%
1970 2.79% 3.67%
1969 2.79% 3.7%
1968 2.8% 3.73%
1967 2.68% 3.64%
1966 2.64% 3.25%
1965 2.72% 2.97%
1964 2.67% 2.99%
1963 2.61% 3.01%
1962 2.55% 3.03%
1961 2.48% 3.03%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/lesotho | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ethiopia grew by 2.62%, while Lesotho's population grew by 1.12%.

Live population counters

Ethiopia Lesotho
Current population
139917664
2396633
Population rank 10/197 143/197
Percent of world population 1.69% 0.03%
One net population change
9.36 seconds
20.3 minutes
One birth every
7.68 seconds
9.43 minutes
One death every
41.1 seconds
21.4 minutes
Daily growth/decline +9,228 +71
Annual growth/decline +3,368,075 +25,951
Annual growth/decline rate +2.62% +1.12%
Population growth rate rank 25/197 93/197
One migration net change every
21.9 minutes
1.69 hours
Annual migration change +24,054 -5,192
Net migration rank 31/196 117/196
Foreign-born residents 1,168,455 15,039
Foreign-born residents rank 53/195 173/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.9% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 157/195 170/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ethiopia
Natural

Migration
Lesotho
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ethiopia Lesotho
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 24,054 - -5,192
2024 - 30,069 - -5,107
2023 3,338,649 -11,996 31,115 -5,168
2022 3,300,114 -11,996 30,803 -6,023
2021 3,204,673 -1,377 27,806 -3,449
2020 3,199,718 38,866 30,721 -3,449
2019 3,132,780 -10,807 32,279 -6,896
2018 3,015,231 9,302 33,112 -6,892
2017 2,899,143 71,766 33,601 -6,850
2016 2,809,889 115,823 33,390 -6,766
2015 2,713,529 62,785 32,087 -7,087
2014 2,623,647 103,122 30,922 -6,877
2013 2,546,020 80,955 29,789 -6,659
2012 2,533,398 119,517 27,592 -6,425
2011 2,527,811 116,793 25,647 -6,118
2010 2,498,048 80,213 21,877 -5,886
2009 2,467,118 16,315 20,335 -5,599
2008 2,465,283 -20,780 19,349 -5,392
2007 2,436,753 -381 17,763 -5,179
2006 2,393,585 -30,512 15,234 -11,416
2005 2,353,375 -44,421 15,831 -35,679
2004 2,296,999 -25,430 17,271 -33,530
2003 2,231,223 -13,744 20,133 -31,723
2002 2,189,683 -12,925 22,274 -29,924
2001 2,137,791 -19,063 23,190 -27,874
2000 2,083,622 -49,891 24,786 -26,220
1999 2,010,987 29,142 27,393 -24,610
1998 1,984,989 -3,011 30,889 -23,299
1997 1,945,112 -9,119 34,637 -22,396
1996 1,896,364 41,456 36,228 -17,042
1995 1,831,068 91,727 37,370 -14,588
1994 1,788,133 140,715 38,629 -13,953
1993 1,734,851 141,545 40,505 -13,347
1992 1,673,839 160,106 42,579 -12,707
1991 1,579,416 859,737 44,026 -12,114
1990 1,479,663 296,014 45,060 -11,598
1989 1,441,769 242,614 46,264 -11,207
1988 1,393,356 379,966 47,158 -11,028
1987 1,356,853 251,387 47,718 -10,946
1986 1,050,277 186,227 45,232 -7,501
1985 997,050 157,476 44,575 1,222
1984 920,670 137,632 43,785 1,199
1983 863,472 68,022 42,899 1,253
1982 1,080,853 66,702 41,941 1,281
1981 1,018,838 628,135 40,808 1,307
1980 1,007,516 -903,529 39,617 1,361
1979 987,203 -711,455 38,440 1,285
1978 943,388 -210,991 37,084 1,047
1977 929,381 -527,133 35,654 746
1976 899,577 -36,125 34,117 2,986
1975 801,425 -42,540 32,311 9,723
1974 777,306 -4,232 30,444 9,972
1973 807,535 347 28,859 10,183
1972 779,808 -3,375 27,841 10,386
1971 787,047 -14,510 26,838 10,563
1970 760,821 8,589 25,935 10,605
1969 736,428 7,258 25,137 10,465
1968 715,602 9,992 24,490 10,108
1967 695,283 14,437 23,911 9,734
1966 616,281 9,160 23,326 7,248
1965 642,359 16,348 22,755 2,239
1964 618,667 10,749 22,116 2,198
1963 590,998 9,418 21,585 2,220
1962 563,650 8,960 21,132 2,172
1961 538,518 6,938 20,581 2,100
1960 511,694 1,696 19,981 1,989

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/lesotho | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 98.8% of the population change in Ethiopia is from natural causes (a gain of 30,237,373 people) and 1.19% is from migration (a gain of 365,488 people). In Lesotho 84.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 315,836 people) and 15.8% is from migration (a loss of 59,457 people).

As of 2024, 1,168,455 residents or 0.9% of the population were not native-born in Ethiopia, compared to 15,039 people or 0.6% in Lesotho.

Biggest cities by population

Ethiopia
City Population
Addis Ababa 5.7M
Gondar 324K
Mekelle 324K
Awasa 300K
Dire Dawa 277K
Bahir Dar 243K
Dessie 188K
Jimma 178K
Harar 157K
Jijiga 126K
Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/ethiopia/lesotho | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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